Punjab expands social welfare net, allocates billions for minorities and vulnerable groups

The Punjab government has significantly expanded its social protection and minority welfare initiatives in the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, allocating billions of rupees for cash assistance, food subsidies, disability support, minority development and poverty alleviation programs

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2026) The Punjab government has significantly expanded its social protection and minority welfare initiatives in the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, allocating billions of rupees for cash assistance, food subsidies, disability support, minority development and poverty alleviation programs.

According to budget documents, the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER) expanded its database from 20 million to 80 million citizens during 2025-26, with over 110 million data entries recorded. A sum of Rs 2 billion has been earmarked for further updating the registry, which serves as the foundation for welfare initiatives including the Wheat Support Program and Minority Card.

For direct relief to low-income households, the government has allocated Rs 40 billion for the Maryam Nawaz Social Security Ration Card, benefiting around 1.2 million labourers and deserving families through subsidies on essential food items.

The Ramazan Nigehban Package, under which 3.4 million deserving families received Rs 10,000 each during Ramadan 2026, has been allocated Rs 37 billion for the next fiscal year.

The government has also enhanced support for persons with disabilities through the Himmat Card programme, increasing its allocation to Rs 5 billion.

Among other welfare initiatives, Rs 4.4 billion has been allocated for the Livestock Card Programme supporting rural women, while Rs 1.7 billion has been earmarked for the Dhee Rani Programme to assist deserving families in arranging marriages of their daughters.

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The government has also allocated Rs 2.6 billion for establishing and expanding Aafiat Old Age Homes across Punjab.

According to the budget documents, Rs 18.5 billion has been allocated for financial support to 60,000 mosque imams, who receive monthly stipends under the initiative.

Highlighting measures for minority communities, the documents show that Rs 5 billion has been allocated for the construction, restoration and development of gurdwaras, churches, temples, cemeteries and other religious and historical sites across the province. During the outgoing year, such projects were completed at a cost of Rs 2.11 billion.

The Chief Minister Minority Card provided financial assistance to deserving minority families at a cost of Rs 3 billion in out-going budget, while projects worth Rs 4 billion have been proposed under the CM Minority Development Programme to improve facilities and services for minority communities.

The government has also continued targeted interventions in South Punjab through the Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project, allocating Rs 2.5 billion for 2026-27 after benefiting nearly 7,000 deserving families.

The documents further reveal that Rs 19.34 billion has been proposed for the Punjab Sahulat Bazaar Authority to ensure the availability of essential commodities at affordable prices, while Rs 1.43 billion has been allocated for the upgradation of Sanatzars across the province.